The Billionaire’s Mask

Chapter 1

I can’t believe this! How could you do this to me…. I refuse to accept this”

“Enough !!” my father yelled with a familiar rage in his eyes and stiffness in his voice. “This isn’t up for debate, Elena, you are getting married to Ethan Cross and that’s it!!

I turned to look at my mother with tears rolling down my face. I said, “You can’t just sit there and do nothing about this, say something, Mom!”

“What could I possibly say, sweetheart? This is the only way to save our family name, and you owe it to us to fulfill your duties as a daughter of the Maercelli dynasty.”

I scoffed, “Duty you say?”, haven’t I given enough for the sake of duty?” I gave up on my dreams of being an artist, all because of “Duty”. Dedicated my entire life to this family, and it still isn’t enough. Now you want to take the only sense of freedom I have left and marry me off to a stranger. A man rumored to be ruthless and dangerous “.

Look here, Elena!! My father said sternly, pointing his fingers at me. “This is our only option, we can’t just standby and watch the Marcellis name die. You must marry him, end of discussion!” His voice was final, leaving no space for argument.

My heart ached as I looked at the faces of the people I call my parents and couldn’t recognize them. How could they be so selfish, using me as a bargaining tool just to keep up their status and maintain power? Right there, it was clear to me: “My happiness meant little or nothing to them, and I knew it was pointless arguing.

I turned to my dad and said firmly, “Fine, but I want you to listen to me carefully.” I may wear the dress and stand at the altar you built, but I will not go quietly.” I immediately stormed out and ran to my room, broken-hearted and angry. I threw myself on the bed, weeping bitterly.

“Are you okay, E?” my younger brother Simon said quietly from the door. He was only 16 and naive, but he was worried about me.

“ I want to be alone, please, Simon,” I responded, and he quietly went away.

Alone in my room, I thought to myself

“ I can’t let this happen, I can’t end up in a loveless marriage, especially not to that man.”

Although I had never met him, the rumors of him and his family were daunting and I couldn’t live the rest of my life with such a man. I had to do something, and I had to do it quickly.”

Meanwhile, over at the Cross estate

“Alright then, Mr Marcellis, we’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow,” hangs up

“Is that who I think it is, Uncle George?

“ Oh, why yes, of course, it’s been settled, “You’ll be getting married to the daughter of Charles Marcellis tomorrow at noon, my uncle George said sharply as he sipped his whiskey.

“ I do find it surprising how a man is willing to marry off his daughter to a stranger,” he said casually.

“Well, you will be surprised at what a man can do for money and power.”

“You’re right, Ethan, “Power is indeed a necessary tool,” he chuckled

Uncle George was the closest thing I had to a family. He raised and groomed me into the man I am after I lost both my parents to a tragic accident years ago. He loved and treated me like a son, and he was like a father to me.

As an only child to my parents and the heir to the Cross Empire, I have had to put the family business above everything else, including myself, and this marriage was one of those decisions.

Contrary to popular opinion, I was just a simple man who likes getting the job done. Power is a strange thing, you know, the more you have it, the less you need to explain yourself to people.

The world had painted me as a villain, a man who dealt in blood. I’d heard it all, blackmail, extortion and even murder. Some of it amusing, most of it is laughable, but all very far from the truth. I never corrected them. Why would I?

“Fear was a far cheaper weapon than proof”

Just then, my uncle handed me a picture of my soon-to-be bride, Elena Marcellis. She had long dark hair that spilled down her shoulders like silk, her eyes bright grey, too alive even in stillness. She had a delicate feature, but her posture

portrayed something else: an edge of defiance that didn’t belong to a girl raised to be traded like currency. It stirred up something in me, Amusement? Curiosity? I wasn’t totally sure. I handed back the photograph before it could become anything more.

“She will have to do”, I said flatly

Uncle George laughed, “She’s not a business acquisition, Ethan, she’s a human being.”

“Don’t make this a romantic thing, Uncle. Their company is dying, and I’m saving it. And in return, I gain leverage in Europe and a bride who will soften my image to the public. It’s practical.”

“What if she doesn’t think the same way?” George asked

I let out a faint smile, “She will, they always do.”

“Tell me, Uncle, what woman would reject a life of protection, wealth and security?” Marrying me is a privilege and not a punishment.”